Saanich #63 – Is gender self-identification good for my child?

School District #63 Saanich			Oct 20, 2018
School District #63 Saanich	Decision Makers	Implementation Motion*	Classroom Motion**
Area 1 Trustee and Vice Chair	McMurphy, Elsie	No formal vote	Acclaimed 2018 to 2022
Area 1 Trustee	Menzies, Barb	No formal vote	Not running
Area 1	Stelk, Sheila		Acclaimed 2018 to 2022
Area 2 Trustee	Price, Jason	No formal vote	Not running
Area 2	Silzer, Nola		Acclaimed 2018 to 2022
Area 3 Trustee	Borden, Nancy	No formal vote	Not running
Area 3	Desroches, Megan		Keep teaching gender fluidity in Saanich
Area 3 Trustee	Dunford, Tim	No formal vote	?
Area 3	Holman, Alicia		Keep teaching gender fluidity in Saanich
Area 4 Trustee	Hunter, Wayne	No formal vote	Not running
Area 4 Trustee and Chair	Martin, Victoria	No formal vote	Acclaimed 2018 to 2022
Area 4	Vanwell, Teri		Acclaimed 2018 to 2022
Superintendent	Dave Eberwein
MLA Saanich North and the Islands	Adam Olsen	May 9, 2017 to October 16, 2021
MLA Saanich South	Lana Popham	May 12, 2009 to October 16, 2021
Former Minister	Mike Bernier	July 30, 2015 to May 9, 2017
Minister of Education	Rob Fleming	July 18, 2017

Areas of School District #63 Saanich
Area	Reference	Area Served
1	North Saanich
2	Sidney
3	Central Saanich
4	District of Saanich

* Implementation Motion, from Board meeting minutes
While the Board has not yet considered any motion that references the learning resource known as SOGI 123, it does have some related policies, three of which are mentioned below. Policy 1350 Human Rights and Discrimination Policy 3120 Challenge of Learning Resources Policy 3100 Selection of Learning Resources
1350 – Human Rights and Discrimination Excerpt: The Board supports the development and implementation of policies, practices and programs that support the rights and freedoms enshrined in the BC Human Rights Code, and which promote and foster a learning environment in the school district which emphasizes tolerance, equality, and non-discrimination. The complete 2-page policy can be seen here. 3120 – Challenge of Learning Resources Excerpt: The Board recognizes that while every effort will be made to ensure the high quality of Learning Resources chosen in accordance with Policy 3100, there may be times when the value of a specific resource may be questioned. This policy allows for the inclusion of the opinions of those persons in the schools and the community who are not directly involved in the selection process. The complete one-page policy can be seen here. 3100 Selection of Learning Resources Excerpt: The Board of School Trustees of School District #63 (Saanich) supports the provision of a wide range of learning resources at varying levels of difficulty and with diversity of appeal to meet the needs of students and teachers. The complete one-page policy can be seen here.
Timeline 2016 July 25 – THE BC Human Rights Code is modified with the addition of “gender identity or expression”. 2017 January 24 – The Saanich School District Board amends policy 1350 affirming its commitment to the principles and values contained in the BC Human Rights Code. 2017 July 1 – Ministry of Education policy delegates approval of Learning Resources to local Boards of Education. Quoting from the Ministry’s policy on learning resources, “The Ministry of Education no longer conducts evaluation processes to recommend learning resources. This responsibility now rests with boards. Board policies and procedures should include a process for ensuring the list of recommended learning resources is up to date and aligned with changes in curriculum. This would include adding and removing resources from the list.” 2018 -Since there has been no formal vote taken by the Saanich Board of Education about SOGI 123 it appears the SOGI 123 Learning Resource has been neither approved nor disapproved for use in the Saanich school district.

* Implementation Motion, from Board meeting minutes

While the Board has not yet considered any motion that references the learning resource known as SOGI 123, it does have some related policies, three of which are mentioned below.

Policy 1350 Human Rights and Discrimination

Policy 3120 Challenge of Learning Resources

Policy 3100 Selection of Learning Resources

1350 – Human Rights and Discrimination

Excerpt: The Board supports the development and implementation of policies, practices and programs that support the rights and freedoms enshrined in the BC Human Rights Code, and which promote and foster a learning environment in the school district which emphasizes tolerance, equality, and non-discrimination.
The complete 2-page policy can be seen here.

3120 – Challenge of Learning Resources

Excerpt: The Board recognizes that while every effort will be made to ensure the high quality of Learning Resources chosen in accordance with Policy 3100, there may be times when the value of a specific resource may be questioned. This policy allows for the inclusion of the opinions of those persons in the schools and the community who are not directly involved in the selection process.
The complete one-page policy can be seen here.

3100 Selection of Learning Resources

Excerpt: The Board of School Trustees of School District #63 (Saanich) supports the provision of a wide range of learning resources at varying levels of difficulty and with diversity of appeal to meet the needs of students and teachers.
The complete one-page policy can be seen here.

Timeline

2016 July 25 – THE BC Human Rights Code is modified with the addition of “gender identity or expression”.

2017 January 24 – The Saanich School District Board amends policy 1350 affirming its commitment to the principles and values contained in the BC Human Rights Code.

2017 July 1 – Ministry of Education policy delegates approval of Learning Resources to local Boards of Education.
Quoting from the Ministry’s policy on learning resources,
“The Ministry of Education no longer conducts evaluation processes to recommend learning resources. This responsibility now rests with boards. Board policies and procedures should include a process for ensuring the list of recommended learning resources is up to date and aligned with changes in curriculum. This would include adding and removing resources from the list.”

2018 -Since there has been no formal vote taken by the Saanich Board of Education about SOGI 123 it appears the SOGI 123 Learning Resource has been neither approved nor disapproved for use in the Saanich school district.

** Classroom Motion

THAT the Saanich Board of Education directs the Superintendent to continue to promote a respectful educational environment for all students, by removing the SOGI 123 learning resource from classroom instructional time.